Breitenstein, Wofford teammates wait for the call

The star fullback, along with linebacker Mike Niam and cornerback Blake Wylie, hope the NFL comes knocking during Saturday's final day of the draft.

By TODD SHANESYtodd.shanesy@shj.com

Eric Breitenstein is on what he called a mini-vacation in Charleston, where he will enjoy the beaches, food and reliable cell phone service.You know, just in case he gets a rather important call.Breitenstein, Wofford's all-time leading rusher, is one of three former Terriers, along with linebacker Mike Niam and cornerback Blake Wylie, who hope to hear their names during the final day of the NFL draft, which ends with rounds 4-7 today. And even if that doesn't happen, all three are confident they will be contacted early next week as free agents invited to offseason camps.Wylie is waiting at his home near Charlotte. Ohio native Niam now lives in Tryon, N.C., close enough to continue working out at Wofford. And Breitenstein has been with his family in the mountains of Valle Crucis, N.C., near Boone, which offers beautiful scenery but cell phone reception that is spotty at best.So Breitenstein, along with parents, siblings and others, has temporarily relocated to the South Carolina coast.“We're just making sure I can answer my phone,” he said. “I'm planning on a short vacation. If I don't get a call on Saturday, it will be extended a little bit.”Breitenstein rushed for 2,035 yards last season, including a Southern Conference single-game best of 321, leading Wofford into the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs and finishing with a school-record 5,128 yards. He also owns the most 100-yard games with 32 and is second on the all-time list with 65 rushing touchdowns. Nationally, he finished second to Zach Zenner of South Dakota State by just 9 yards.“I've heard from several teams,” Breitenstein said. “That doesn't mean I'll get drafted or even picked up as a free agent, but I'm confident I will end up in a camp somewhere.”Niam, who battled through a pair of knee surgeries during his Wofford career and missed three games last season but still make 270 career tackles, said he is in the best health of his life. That has evidently shown during his workouts for NFL scouts at several pro days. Niam (6-foot-3, 240 pounds) spent eight weeks training in Miami when the Terriers' season ended in December.An article by NFL Draft Zone said Niam was “an ideal lane-clogging ILB in any scheme. Had he not suffered a couple of injuries during the course of his career, Mike would have no doubt been one of the top-rated linebackers in the entire draft. With his size, technique and passion for the game, Niam is everything you want in a linebacker.”Niam said he is confident he will get a free-agent contract if not a call today as a draft pick.“I feel pretty good about it,” he said. “It's a guessing game right now, but I think I'll get a shot. I've talked to some teams and have gotten some good feedback. I'm hoping for the best. I know that if I get a shot, I will do everything I can to make a team.”Wylie, from Providence Day School, was a shut-down corner for the Terriers and led the team last season with three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown in the 14-7 loss to North Dakota State during the playoffs. He pulled a hamstring during Wofford's pro day but tried again about two weeks later at another at South Carolina State.“I did pretty well there. I wasn't 100 percent, but I did all the drills and got through OK,” Wylie said. “I honestly don't what my chances are. I did get a call from a team earlier this week, so I hope they call back. I've talked to several teams but only one called this week. … My agent says there is a good possibility that I get invited to a camp. It's been my dream to make it to the NFL. If I just get invited to a camp, that would be a dream come true.”Wylie said he's also been contacted by a few teams in the Canadian Football League and considers that a possibility. Niam is focused solely on the NFL. As for Breitenstein, he has softened on his stance.“I've been saying that it's NFL or bust,” Breitenstein said. “But I don't know. It would be hard to turn down somebody who will pay you to play football. If the NFL doesn't work, I'm leaning on just going out into the real world. But I'm not sure. Hopefully, I won't have to make that decision for a while.”

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